Apparatus for Attaching a Ballistic Plate to a Civilian User

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attaching a ballistic plate to a wearer&#39;s body includes a bag sized to closely receive the ballistic plate. The bag has an opening configured to receive the ballistic plate. An adjustable and releasable neck strap includes first neck strap end portion mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag upper portion and a second neck strap end portion mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag upper portion. An adjustable and releasable waist strap has a first waist strap end portion mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag lower portion and a second waist strap end portion mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag lower portion. The bag can comprise an anti-spall material.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/051,033, filed Jul. 13, 2020, entitled “Apparatus for Attaching a Ballistic Plate to a Civilian User,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/194/384, filed May 28, 2021, also entitled “Apparatus for Attaching a Ballistic Plate to a Civilian User,” each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to equipment that provides personal ballistic protection, and more particularly to an improvement for a hard or soft body armor plate that allows the plate to be rapidly and easily attached to one's body over or under existing clothing on either the front or back of the wearer to provide emergency ballistic protection for civilian use.

Conventional ballistic protective equipment typically includes a complicated vest that contains two armor plates (also called panels), one in a front pocket and one in a back pocket of the vest. This kind of bulletproof vest is commonly used in the military or by law enforcement officers, but is rarely used by civilians because the vest is heavy, bulky, difficult to conceal, and relatively time consuming to attach to the body. The attachment mechanism for such vests typically includes multiple Velcro fasteners, snap fasteners, buckles or other fastening hardware. To put on or remove such a vest, a wearer must manipulate several fasteners, typically one at a time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for rapidly attaching a ballistic plate to a wearer's body, wherein the apparatus allows the user to put on the plate more quickly and conveniently than conventional protective vests and that is lighter and less bulky than such vests.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus that also can provide spall protection that helps protect the wearer from projectile fragments that ricochet off a ballistic plate carried within the apparatus when the projectile impacts it.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY

To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described in this document, there is provided an apparatus for attaching a ballistic plate to a wearer's body. In some embodiments, the apparatus is used with a ballistic plate that has an integrated outer fabric layer (sometimes referred to as a “soft plate”). The apparatus includes an adjustable and releasable neck strap having a first neck strap end portion and an opposing second neck strap end portion. The first neck strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first upper side portion of the ballistic plate, and the second neck strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second upper side portion of ballistic plate. The apparatus further includes an adjustable and releasable waist strap having a first waist strap end portion and an opposing second waist strap end portion. The first waist strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first lower side portion of the ballistic plate and the second waist strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second lower side portion of the ballistic plate. In some embodiments, the ballistic plate outer layer can comprise an anti-spall material.

In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a bag sized to closely receive a ballistic plate that can be a soft plate or a hard plate. The bag has a lower portion and an opposing upper portion, either of which can include an opening configured to receive the ballistic plate and a flap for covering the opening. The apparatus also includes an adjustable and releasable neck strap having a first neck strap end portion and an opposing second neck strap end portion. The first neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag upper portion and the second neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag upper portion. The apparatus further includes an adjustable and releasable waist strap having a first waist strap end portion and an opposing second waist strap end portion. The first waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag lower portion and the second waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag lower portion. In some embodiments, the front of the bag can comprise an anti-spall material.

In these embodiments, the apparatus of the invention allows for a civilian wearer to rapidly and easily put on the ballistic plate—either over or under existing clothing and on either their front or back—to provide emergency ballistic protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, includes figures and information illustrating the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred methods and embodiments given below, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one prototype embodiment of an apparatus for attaching a soft ballistic plate to a user according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention that includes a bag having an opening in an upper portion thereof for receiving either a hard or a soft ballistic plate.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention that includes a bag that has an opening disposed in a lower portion thereof for receiving a ballistic plate and that also includes multiple layers of anti-spall fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in more detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described more fully with reference to these examples and drawings, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrative examples shown and described. Rather, the description which follows is to be understood as a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of ordinary skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the invention.

It will be appreciated that terms such as “forward,” “rearward,” “upper,” “inner,” “outer,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “bottom,” “below,” “top,” “side,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “downwardly” and “lower” and other positional descriptive terms used in this specification are used merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the referenced components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention for use with a soft ballistic plate or panel. The apparatus 10 includes a soft ballistic plate 12 that has an integrated outer fabric layer. An adjustable and releasable neck strap 14 includes first neck strap end portion 16 a and an opposing second neck strap end portion 16 b. The first neck strap end portion 16 a is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first upper side portion of the ballistic plate 12, and the second neck strap end portion 16 b is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second upper side portion of ballistic plate 12. An adjustable and releasable waist strap 18 has a first waist strap end portion 20 a and an opposing second waist strap end portion 20 b. The first waist strap end portion 20 a is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first lower side portion of the ballistic plate 12 and the second waist strap end portion 20 b is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second lower side portion of the ballistic plate 12.

As shown in the prototype embodiment pictured in FIG. 1, the neck strap 14 is formed by two 16″×1″ Velcro straps 14 a, 14 b, and the waist strap 18 is formed by two 18″×1″ Velcro straps 18 a, 18 b. The ballistic plate 12 is a Class III A soft ballistic plate. The neck strap end portions 16 a, 16 b and the waist strap end portions 18 a, 18 b are attached to the outer fabric layer of the ballistic plate 12 by sewing them to the outer fabric layer. Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will understand that the neck strap end portions 16 a, 16 b and the waist strap end portions 18 a, 18 b also can by affixed to the fabric layer of the ballistic plate by other suitable fasteners, such as by rivets, staples, clips or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prototype embodiment of the invention for use with either a hard or a soft ballistic plate. The apparatus includes a bag 22 sized to closely receive a ballistic plate 12, which can be a soft plate or a hard plate. The bag 22 has a lower portion 24 and an opposing upper portion 26, either of which includes an opening configured to receive the ballistic plate and a flap 28 for covering the opening. An adjustable and releasable neck strap 14 has a first neck strap end portion 16 a and an opposing second neck strap end portion 16 b. The first neck strap end portion 16 a is mounted to the bag 22 at a first side of the bag upper portion and the second neck strap end portion 16 b is mounted to the bag 22 at an opposing second side of the bag upper portion. An adjustable and releasable waist strap 18 has a first waist strap end portion 20 a and an opposing second waist strap end portion 20 b. The first waist strap end portion 20 a is mounted to the bag 22 at a first side of the bag lower portion and the second waist strap end portion 20 b is mounted to the bag 22 at an opposing second side of the bag lower portion.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bag 22 is nylon stitched bag sized to closely receive a ballistic plate 12—which can be a hard or soft ballistic plate. In the pictured prototype, the bag 22 measures 13″ to 15″ high by 11″ to 12″ wide and has a fold over Velcro flap 28. The neck strap 14 is formed by two 16″×1″ Velcro straps 14 a, 14 b, and the waist strap 18 is formed by two 18″×1″ Velcro straps 18 a, 18 b. The neck strap end portions 16 a, 16 b and the waist strap end portions 18 a, 18 b are attached to the bag 22 by sewing them to the bag. Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will understand that the neck strap end portions 16 a, 16 b and the waist strap end portions 18 a, 18 b also can by affixed to the bag 22 by other suitable fasteners, such as by rivets, staples clips or the like. One suitable material for the nylon stitched bag 22 is a 1000 Denier Cordura® nylon fabric material.

In some embodiments, the ballistic plate bag 22 can comprise an anti-spall material, such as a Kevlar® fabric. For example, the front of the bag 22 can include one or more layers of such anti-spall material. In this configuration, the apparatus can provide spall protection that helps protect the wearer from projectile fragments that ricochet off the ballistic plate carried within the apparatus when the projectile impacts it.

FIG. 3 illustrates one prototype embodiment of a ballistic plate bag according to the present invention, wherein the front of the bag 22 includes four layers of Kevlar® fabric. In addition, as shown in the prototype embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the bag 22 can have an opening disposed in the bag lower portion 24 for receiving the ballistic plate.

Having read this disclosure, it will be understood by those having skill in the art that the apparatus of the present invention enjoys a number of advantages over the prior art. It allows for a wearer to rapidly and easily put on a ballistic plate—either over or under existing clothing and on either their front or back—to provide emergency ballistic protection for civilian use. It can be quickly adjusted and hung around the neck and strapped around the waist of the wearer, over or under existing clothing, on the front or back of the wearer, for fast emergency ballistic protection for civilian use. It is of a smaller and less bulky construction, which can easily be kept and stored in a backpack, briefcase or drawer.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improvement for a ballistic plate that has an integrated fabric layer, the improvement comprising: an adjustable and releasable neck strap having a first neck strap end portion and an opposing second neck strap end portion, wherein the first neck strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first upper side portion of the ballistic plate and the second neck strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second upper side portion of ballistic plate; and an adjustable and releasable waist strap having a first waist strap end portion and an opposing second waist strap end portion, wherein the first waist strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at a first lower side portion of the ballistic plate and the second waist strap end portion is mounted to the ballistic plate fabric layer at an opposing second lower side portion of the ballistic plate.
 2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the ballistic plate fabric layer comprises an anti-spall material.
 3. A holder for a ballistic plate, the holder comprising: a bag sized to closely receive a ballistic plate, wherein the bag has a lower portion and an opposing upper portion that includes an opening configured to receive the ballistic plate and a flap for covering the opening; an adjustable and releasable neck strap having a first neck strap end portion and an opposing second neck strap end portion, wherein first neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag upper portion and the second neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag upper portion; and an adjustable and releasable waist strap having a first waist strap end portion and an opposing second waist strap end portion, wherein the first waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag lower portion and the second waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag lower portion.
 4. The holder of claim 3 wherein the bag comprises an anti-spall material.
 5. A holder of a ballistic plate, the holder comprising: a bag sized to closely receive a ballistic plate, wherein the bag includes a bag upper portion, a bag lower portion, and an opening configured to receive the ballistic plate, wherein the bag comprises an anti-spall material; an adjustable and releasable neck strap having a first neck strap end portion and an opposing second neck strap end portion, wherein first neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag upper portion and the second neck strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag upper portion; and an adjustable and releasable waist strap having a first waist strap end portion and an opposing second waist strap end portion, wherein the first waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at a first side of the bag lower portion and the second waist strap end portion is mounted to the bag at an opposing second side of the bag lower portion. 